Ep 36 - The best thrift shops in the world

<p>What makes MCC thrift shops the best?</p><p>In this episode, Ken Ogasawara goes behind the scenes of MCC Thrift to follow the life of a donation—from the moment it’s received to the moment it finds a new home (or gets repurposed in surprising ways). Along the way, we hear from Mark Patfield, General Manager of the MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre, who offers a window into the care, structure, and decision-making that shape what ends up on the shelves.</p><p>The episode also introduces us to some of the people who make these spaces what they are. Volunteers like Isabella, and longtime contributors Edna and Margaret, describe a culture that’s hard to replicate elsewhere—one marked by joy, purpose, and a shared sense that even small tasks matter.</p><p>At the same time, Ken reflects on the tension many of us feel living in a culture that constantly pushes us to buy more. The familiar phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle, renew” takes on new meaning here—not as a slogan, but as a set of choices that can shape how we live, spend, and relate to one another.</p><p>Undercurrents is hosted by Ken Ogasawara, with production support from Christen Kong. Theme music by Brian MacMillan. Cover art by Jesse Bergen. Executive produced by Sandra Reimer.</p><p>This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://kindredcu.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Kindred Credit Union</a>.</p><p>If you have questions or thoughts about the episode, you can reach us at <a href="mailto:podcast@mcco.ca" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast@mcco.ca</a>.</p><p><br /></p>